Hale County commissioners accept Koelder resignaion

Published 6:48 am, Monday, July 26, 2010

Hale County commissioners voted 5-0 to accept the resignation of Gary Koelder as Precinct 3 commissioner this morning during their regular meeting.

Koelder's resignation, which was effective Wednesday, was a condition of the sentencing for his recent conviction on the Class A misdemeanor charge of theft by a public servant.

Hale County Judge Dwain Dodson appointed Kenny Kernell as Koelder's replacement. He was sworn into office Friday and will serve until the general election in November. At that time Kernell will have to gain a place on the ballot either as an independent candidate, a write-in or as the selection of one of the political parties.

In other business, the court voted 5-0 to accept the 2009 audit, presented by Bob Womack of Davis Kinard & Co. of Abilene.

According to the report, Hale County had revenue of $10,420,754, expenses of $10,713,423 and a general fund balance of $7,158,425 for 2009.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to accept the accounts payable for the period from July 14-26 of $230,693.57, the SAMSHA grant of $65,326.11 and the financial report for the month ending June 30 which showed a closing balance of $15,377,107.31.

County Treasurer Ida Tyler also reported total earnings from investments for the first and second quarters of 2010 of $70,760.51.

Hale County Extension Agent Scott Adair received approval on a 5-0 vote for $413 for expenses related to his and Andy Hart's planned trip to the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association in Ruidoso, N.M., and Deana Sagaser received approval of up to $500 to attend the Family and Consumer Sciences Agents Association meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Sagaser told commissioners she had applied for grants to help offset the expenses of the trip.

County Clerk Latrice Kemp received permission on a 4-0 vote to join in a contract with the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District #1 in Lubbock for election services in the upcoming general election. Dodson abstained because he has to sign the agreement.

Due to the fact that Kernell had not had time to adequately review requests for his precinct made before his tenure began, the court agreed to table those requests.

Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Hale Center to haul patching material for road repairs at a cost of $2 per loaded mile.

Finally, Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the hiring of Kayci Churchwell and Vickie Hinsley in the County Clerk's office. Wages for each would be $10.59 per hour with effective start dates of June 28. They also approved by the same margin the purchase of a desktop scanner not to exceed $1,250

The court tabled a request by the Plainview Daily Herald to use the Ollie Liner Center on Sept. 17-18 for Cowboy Days pending further discussion.

(Contact Richard Porter at 806-296-1361 or porter@plainviewdailyherald.com. Become his fan on Facebook.)